Joseph M. Gaydos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's20th district | |
| In office November 5, 1968 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Elmer Holland |
| Succeeded by | Austin Murphy |
| Member of thePennsylvania Senate from the45th district | |
| In office January 2, 1967 – November 5, 1968[1] | |
| Preceded by | Leonard Staisey |
| Succeeded by | Edward Zemprelli |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Matthew Gaydos (1926-07-03)July 3, 1926 Braddock, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | February 7, 2015(2015-02-07) (aged 88) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Alice Ann Gaydos (née Gray; died March 19, 2001) |
Joseph Matthew Gaydos (July 3, 1926 – February 7, 2015) was an American lawyer,World War II veteran, andDemocratic member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania, serving 8 terms from 1968 to 1992. Gaydos was the firstSlovak American to serve in theUnited States Congress.[2]
Gaydos was born inBraddock, Pennsylvania. His parents were called John and Elona Magella Gaydos[3] and were born inSlovakia.[4]
He attendedDuquesne University and graduated from theUniversity of Notre Dame Law School in 1951.
He served duringWorld War II in the Pacific theater with theUnited States Navy Reserve from 1944 to 1946.
He served in thePennsylvania State Senate from 1967 to 1968.[5] He served as DeputyAttorney General of Pennsylvania, AssistantSolicitor ofAllegheny County, and general counsel toUnited Mine Workers of America, district five.[citation needed]
He was elected simultaneously as a Democrat to the90th and to the91st Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States RepresentativeElmer Holland.
He prioritized workers’ rights and preservation of the domestic steel industry while in Congress. He was a strong supporter of organized labor and was a leading proponent of strengthening labor laws to provide health and pension benefits, as well as job safety protections, for employees.[6]
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1992.
He died on February 7, 2015, aged 88.[7][8]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 20th congressional district 1968–1993 | Succeeded by |
